• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.67-79
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• 2016

The forecasting of air pollution is an important and popular topic in environmental engineering. Due to health impacts caused by unacceptable particulate matter (PM) levels, it has become one of the greatest concerns in metropolitan cities like Karaj City in Iran. In this study, the concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was predicted by applying a multilayer percepteron (MLP) neural network, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network and a Markov chain model. Two months of hourly data including temperature, NO, $NO_2$, $NO_x$, CO, $SO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ were used as inputs to the artificial neural networks. From 1,488 data, 1,300 of data was used to train the models and the rest of the data were applied to test the models. The results of using artificial neural networks indicated that the models performed well in predicting $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations. The application of a Markov chain described the probable occurrences of unhealthy hours. The MLP neural network with two hidden layers including 19 neurons in the first layer and 16 neurons in the second layer provided the best results. The coefficient of determination ($R^2$), Index of Agreement (IA) and Efficiency (E) between the observed and the predicted data using an MLP neural network were 0.92, 0.93 and 0.981, respectively. In the MLP neural network, the MBE was 0.0546 which indicates the adequacy of the model. In the RBF neural network, increasing the number of neurons to 1,488 caused the RMSE to decline from 7.88 to 0.00 and caused $R^2$ to reach 0.93. In the Markov chain model the absolute error was 0.014 which indicated an acceptable accuracy and precision. We concluded the probability of occurrence state duration and transition of $PM_{2.5}$ pollution is predictable using a Markov chain method.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1445-1456
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• 2010

This study presented seasonal changes of the phytoplankton community in Junam reservoir by pollution and water quality of the lake. The water storage of the reservoir is 5.3 million ton, most of which are being utilized for agricultural, industrial and residential purposes. The annual precipitation during the investigation period was 1,868.9 mm, increasing by 20% from the average annual level of 1,506.7 mm in 2009. The annual average water storage was 57.3%. It decreased during agricultural season and then increased again after monsoon rainfall. The loads of BOD were $3,799kgday^{-1}$, and 81% of them came from livestock and household. The TN and TP loads were $1,164kgday^{-1}$ and $170kgday^{-1}$, respectively, and 76% of them came from livestock. We assessed water quality of the Junam reservoir using 17 variables. According to the result, the reservoir met the fourth grade, meaning slightly bad, because of high concentration of COD, SS and chlorophyll-a. Eutrophication assessment was conducted by revised Carlson's Index (TSIm, Aizaki), and it was found that the entire lake was eutrophicated with high chlorophyll-a concentration all through the year, except during February to April and in July. A total of 76 phytoplankton species were identified from the samples. Among them, the largest number of species were Chlorophyceae with 33 species(43.4%), followed by Bacilliophyceae with 27 species(35.5%), Cyanophyceae with 8 species(10.5%), and Cryptophyceae with species(10.5%). The total cell number of phytoplankton was the highest in October(7,884 cells $mL^{-1}$) among Cyanophyceae and Bacilliophyceae. The seasonal succession of Chlorophyceae (Chlamydomonas spp.), Cyanophyceae(Microcystis aeruginosa) and Cryptophyceae(Rhodomonas spp.) was observed during January to May, July to September and October to December respectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.81-90
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• 2010

In this study, primary investigation for evaluation of abandoned metal mine effect on watershed has been done. 64 abandoned mines have been selected for primary investigation through literature and field survey. 216 soil and 90 water samples were collected and metal pollution concentrations were analyzed. 24 mines have mine water in the pits and acid water below pH 5 was not observed. Soils from 35 mines were over the soil basis of concern and 16 mines were over the soil basis of action. Arsenic average concentration was 188 times of average concentration of the natural background. Drinking water samples from 3 mines were over the drinking water standard and surface water samples from 12 mines were over the river water standard. Integrated pollution index, which was resulted from the integration of field survey, soil and water pollution concentration, showed that, abandoned metal mines had affected on watershed greatly in the order of Samgeum, Daedeok, Cheongdalgeum, Heungsin, Yeongdae and Myeongbong mines.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1014-1025
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• 2014

We measured the concentrations of various geochemical parameters [grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, As, Zn, and Hg)] in the surface sediments of two intertidal oyster Crassostrea gigas farming areas (Iwon and Mongsan tidal flats) on the Taean Peninsula, Korea, to evaluate the pollution level of organic matter and trace metals in sediment. The intertidal sediments in the study region comprise mostly sand with a mean grain size of 2.5-3.5 Ø. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS, and trace metals in the sediment of two study regions were either similar or lower in oyster farming areas relative to non-farming areas, apparently due to biological uptake or physical and biological sediment reworking. Based on the results for the pollution evaluation of organic matter and trace metals derived from sediment quality guidelines, enrichment factor, and geoaccumulation index, our results suggest that the sediment in these two intertidal oyster farming regions is not polluted by organic matter and trace metals.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.27-42
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• 2018

It is important to identify the contaminant sources and to evaluate the fate and transport of heavy metals to crops in agricultural lands. This study was conducted to evaluate metal sources and its transfer and accumulation to crop in agricultural soils. Pollution indices were calculated and multivariate analysis was performed to identify metal sources. To evaluate transfer and accumulation of metals to crops, the contents of phytoavailable metals were evaluated by using single extraction method and the correlation between metal content and soil properties was analyzed. Also the BCF was quantitatively evaluated for investigating the metal transition to each crop grown in the research area. As a result, Cr, Ni, and Co were expected to be mainly derived from geologic factors due to weathering of certain parent rocks. The content of nickel in soils of the research area was slightly higher than that of the concern level criteria based on total concentration, but the amount transferred and accumulated in the crops was actually low. Understanding the contamination characteristics by investigating the pollution sources of heavy metals and its transfer and accumulation to crops through various evaluation techniques could provide important information for proper management of the agricultural land.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2021

Background: We aimed to investigate the characteristics of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in adolescents and to analyze the relationship between the occurrence of PSP and air pollutants. Methods: Data pertaining to age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, initial pneumothorax volume, presence of bullae, treatment methods, and city of residence were retrospectively obtained from January 2010 to December 2014. We investigated the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants (SO2, NO2, O3, CO, and PM10) and the occurrence of PSP using a case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression. Results: We collected information from 598 patients who were admitted for PSP, with a mean follow-up duration of 62.9 months. The majority (91.1%) of the patients were male. In the case-crossover design, conditional logistic regression showed that no air pollutant was associated with the occurrence of pneumothorax. The results were consistent across all city subgroups (Anyang, Gunpo, Uiwang, and Gwacheon). Conclusion: In our study, the incidence rate of pneumothorax was 153.8 per 100,000 person-years in male adolescents and 16.7 per 100,000 person-years in female adolescents. The case-crossover design showed that PSP in adolescents is unlikely to be related to air pollution.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1997

Retention ponds have been dug along some of the motorways to control water flow during rainstorms and to minmize environmental pollution. A retention pond located at Les Ardilleres about 20km South of Orleans along the A-71 motorway has been selected to evaluate the effectiveness of such a pond as a trap for heavy metals. Based on the "index of geoaccumulation" and the "enrichment factor" normalized to Fe introduced by Muller in 1979 and by Helz in 1976, respectively, the degree of contamination by heavy metals for the roadside soil and the settling particles was evaluated. As expected, the contamination was very severe in the roadside soil, while it was not so great in the settling particles. Using these methods, cadmium anomaly was traced in the settling particles of the retention pond, their occurrence being attributed partly to natural and partly to anthropogenic pollution. The estimated input of heavy metals associated with settling particles to the pond was 0.9 g/day Pb, 2.1 g/day Zn and 6mg/day Cd. A tentative mass balance of Pb and Zn originated by motor vehicles suggested that only 5 to l1% of heavy metals deposited on the surface of the motorway is carried to the retention pond by runoff water ; suggestions are made to improve their efficiency.ve their efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.460-473
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• 2017

In order to certificate the contamination assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments from the Nakdong river. Surface sediments were collected of 24 sampling sites (main 14st., tributary 10st.) and analyzed for grain size heavy metals contents. Study area mainly composed of sand (avg. 94.1%) and mean grain size was $1.46{\Phi}$ on average. Heavy metals contents (avg. Al: 12.5%, Zn; 74.4, Cr: 45.3, Li: 26.0, Pb: 17.1, Ni: 10.5, Cu: 7.8, Cd: 0.22 mg/kg) were relatively high contents in the composed of fine sediments. In addition, the results of pearson's correlation coefficient showed that most heavy metals and grain size (silt and clay) were highly correlated. The contents of Zn (6st.) and Ni (1st.) evaluated as moderately polluted, Zn (6st.) evaluated as LEL when compared with sediment quality standard of USEPA and Ontario sediment quality guidelines. Most heavy metals contents were I levels that dose not affected the benthos when compared with sediment pollution evaluation standard of NIER. The results of EX, EF, Igeo and CF showed the contents of Zn, Pb and Cd exceed the background contents and distributing of anthropogenic pollution and evaluated as moderately polluted level. And Nm-08 were relatively high level of contamination in the study area. However as results of PLI (less than 1), all sampling sites were evaluated unpolluted level.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.415-429
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• 2003

This study was objected to identify the difference of water quality and the characteristics of water contamination in adjacent bed-rock areas of Upper Hwajeonni and Guryongsan Formations in Miwon, Choongchungbuk-do, Korea. Water samples showed mainly (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ type in Upper Hawjeonni Formation and (Ca, Mg)-$SO_4$ and (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ types in Guryongsan Formation indicating the enrichment of $SO_4$ in major compositions. Groundwater quality could be divided into two groups based on the major weathering processes, implied by the ratio of bicarbonate to silica. Carbonate-silicate weathering predominates in Upper Hwajeonni Formation, and silicate weathering in Guryongsan Formation. Stream-water quality also appeared to be controlled by water-rock interaction. Cluster analysis identified three groups of groundwater and four groups of stream-water with distinctive geochemical characteristics. The results of factor analysis indicated that the levels of each chemical constituent in water samples derived from both natural weathering reactions and anthropogenic contamination sources. To delineate the pollution potential of water resources, Modified Pollution Index(M.P.I.) was developed. M.P.I. scores of water samples ranged from -0.08 to 0.18, with mostly positive along the rock quarry in Guryongsan Formation areas. M.P.I. scores appeared to be a useful predictor of metal contamination of water resources.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.98-104
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• 1997

Soil pollution intensity at Mt. Namsan in Seoul city which was expected to show significant soil contamination due to long-term air pollution was evaluated by comparing soil chemical properties at Mt. Kyebangsan in Hongcheon area as a control, and the bacteria participating in nitrogen or sulfur mineralization were assayed simultaneously in order to evaluate the validity of N and/or S mineralization bacteria as an index of soil contamination. The soil of Mt. Namsan showed 10 times higher concentration of hydrogen ion compared to that of Mt. Kyebangsan, which indicated that the soil had relatively been acidified seriously. Especially, large amount of canons were thought to be leached out from the soil, while the amount of extractable Al was getting larger and larger, which result in serious problems in soil ecosystem of the mountain. I could infer from soil chemical properties of the four study sites that the major reason of soil acidification was SOx deposition. However, the sulfur-reducing bacteria were not significantly different between the two regions, which indicated that the microbial dynamics of the soil ecosystem was not controlled by simple factor, but by multiple factors. By the way, the dynamics of bacteria participating in denitrification process was different between the two regions, which was more active at Mt. Kyebangsan than at Mt. Namsan. Thus, the microbial assay for nitrogen mineralization is desirable to be examined as a tool for evaluating soil health or microbial activity in soil ecosystem.